Pronunciation: [lˈakti͡əl] (IPA) 
The word "lacteal" is spelled "lak-tee-uhl". The IPA phonetic transcription for "lacteal" is /ˈlæktiəl/. The first syllable of the word is pronounced as "lak", similar to the word "lack". The second syllable is pronounced as "tee", like the letter "T". The final syllable is pronounced as "uhl", like the end of the word "usual". "Lacteal" refers to something related to milk, such as the lacteal glands in the body that produce milk.
Lacteal is an adjective that refers to something which is related to or resembling milk, specifically the white color and creamy texture. It is derived from the Latin word “lacteus,” meaning milky. The term is often used in biological and medical contexts, particularly in relation to specialized structures within the human body.
In anatomy, lacteal refers to the minute lymphatic vessels located in the lining of the small intestine. These lacteals play a crucial role in the absorption of dietary fats. They transport the fatty acids and glycerol, derived from digested fats, to the lymphatic system and eventually to the bloodstream. Additionally, lacteals have a milky appearance due to their ability to accumulate chyle, which is a milky lymphatic fluid consisting of fatty substances.
The term can also describe certain animal and plant structures that have a milky appearance and texture. For example, lacteal glands found in certain animals produce a milky fluid, while the lacteal vessels in some plants contain a white latex-like substance.
Furthermore, lacteal can be used metaphorically to describe something that resembles the qualities of milk, such as being pale white or having a creamy consistency. This can be applied to objects, substances, or even colors that share these characteristics.
In summary, lacteal is an adjective that describes something related to milk or having a milky appearance and texture. It is commonly used in biological and medical contexts, often referring to structures in the human body, such as the lymphatic vessels in the small intestine.
1. Relating to or resembling milk, milky. 2. One of the lymphatic vessels in the mesentery, conveying chyle from the intestine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• Pert. to milk; conveying milk.
• In animals, one of the small tubes which convey the chyle from the intestines to the thoracic ducts.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "lacteal" comes from the Latin term "lacteus", which means "milky" or "of milk". It is derived from the Latin word "lac", meaning "milk". In English, "lacteal" is used to describe something related to or resembling milk, particularly in reference to the lacteal ducts within the body, which are responsible for the absorption of fats during digestion.
